Summer is a great time for teachers to research classroom pets in preparation for the students’ return to school in the fall.  Pets in the Classroom makes getting your grant easy, and you will have plenty of time to go out and find everything you need to make your pet’s classroom experience great for the pet and your students.

There are a wide variety of pets to choose from, all with different care and equipment requirements.  You’ll also need to think about what your students are capable of at their particular stage of development.  The classroom pet can help kids develop social skills and responsible, caring behaviors, but a classroom pet should be appropriate for your students’ age and abilities.

Pets have a wide variety of needs – a classroom rabbit will require a different type of care than a snake or a hermit crab.  Familiarize yourself with various pets’ behaviors, habitats, food and water requirements, exercise requirements and probable level of interaction with the kids.  Pets that are less interactive can provide great learning experiences through observing behaviors, as well as in creating and maintaining their specific habitats.

There are also endless ways to incorporate your new classroom pet into your curriculum and creating unique learning opportunities.  As you plan for your upcoming year, you may come up with some surprising ways to inspire your students through your new classroom pet.

We encourage you to explore the wonderful world of classroom pets, and find the pet that is perfect for your classroom! Visit us at www.petsintheclassroom.org